Susan and Bruce Mitchell have recently chosen to donate $100,000 to the Athens County Foundation to give back to the community that has given so much to them. The Susan, Bruce, and Will Mitchell Unrestricted Fund will provide grants to the community in perpetuity.
Both came to Athens in the 1970s to attend Ohio University by way of Cleveland and Columbus. Bruce founded the Athens News in the spring of 1977 as a bi-weekly alternative newspaper. He believed in strong investigative reporting and holding those in power accountable. Susan worked as a photo editor for the publication which is where she and Bruce met.
Susan and Bruce have two sons. Bruce says his three greatest achievements are marrying Susan, founding the Athens News, and visiting all 30 Major League Baseball Parks with his boys. Bruce explained that “A key factor in our financial success over the last 40 years has been my business partner in the newspaper Guy Philips who, along with his wife Linda, have been our partners in local real estate.”
The Mitchell’s were inspired by all those who have given so generously their time, hard work, and donations to the Athens County Foundation, and that moved them to do more. Bruce said, “We don’t have to worry about our investment in the community with the Foundation.”
Susan added, “Another thing that keeps me more generous and loving is loss. We birthed two children and lost one when he was twenty-one. I think when you are broken and experience tremendous loss, when you come back you want to give, give, give. That is where I am. You realize how a lot is really shallow and giving and helping others isn’t.”
Susan wrapped her thoughts about the decision to start this fund with one of her favorite quotes, “Money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It is not worth a thing unless it is spread around encouraging young things to grow.” -Hello Dolly
Bruce retired after nearly 38 years as publisher of the Athens News. The Mitchell’s now spend most of the year living in Key West where Susan owns her own company, susanskeywestcondo.com, and Bruce is a part-time bicycle tour guide with Key Lime Bike Tours. Bruce summed up why he wants to give back to the community through his fund by saying “You can’t take the money with you, so why not get the great joy that it gives both of us to give to the Foundation now.”